Tales of the Fallen Book I: Awakenings (13 page)

Boscoe doubled his squirming effort. “No, Dew. Don’t, please. We’re family!”

“I know, I know. That’s why you’re going in the backdoor and not the long way.”

“Oh, shit!”

“Exactly,” Dew laughed. Then he proceeded to snap all of Boscoe’s limbs, which left Boscoe a screaming mess. Dew flipped the half-breed upside down and held him by his broken legs. “Upsy daisy,” Dew said and launched Boscoe high up in the air. He shot Travis a quick grin. “Watch this.”

Dew jumped up did an impressive half flip, came down on his hands, arms spread wide, his legs leaning forward, but apart and opened his asshole…wide. Travis was stunned. Boscoe’s scream of
Nooooooo,
snapped Travis from his asshole-gaze and looked up just in time to see the spindly demon-nymph descend rapidly into Dew’s gaping butthole. As Boscoe disappeared, his scream grew distant as if he was falling into an endless pit.
 
The sound was cut off when Dew slammed his hole closed, pushed off the ground, did a half-backflip and landed on his feet. He slapped his hands together and rubbed them. “That’s that.”

“Can’t he just crawl out of there?” Travis asked somewhat confused, partially wanting to know the answer and partially
not
.

“Not anytime soon. It’s like another fucking world in there. My ass is vast and far-reaching,” Dew said proudly. “It knows no end.”

“Awesome,” was all that Travis could say.

“You fucking know it.” Then Dew let out that big laugh Travis had grown used to, but now there was something missing from it. Dew seemed different since the scene at Painfreak. Something in his demeanor had changed. Travis could sense that Dew was trying to be the same, but it was an act. Travis just knew that what Boscoe said to Dew back in the room had struck a nerve and cut deep. But Travis decided not to pursue it. And before he could think anymore about it Dew said, “Okay, T-man, time to take care of your business. “

Travis shook himself out of his thought. “Uh, okay.”

“So you want to find the guy who killed your wife and do something nasty to him?”

Travis was shocked and stood there jaw hanging. He stuttered a bit before saying, “How did you…”

Dew moved up next to Travis and placed his bigass arm around Travis’ shoulders. “Give me a break, T-man. I know everything about you. When you summon a demon, you become an open book.”

Travis flashed Dew an angry look. “Then why the hell did…”

“Relax, man. I wanted to have some fun. I don’t get out of Hell all that often. Gotta take advantage when I can.”

“Damnit!”

“Easy, boy. It’s your time now. Hold on, we’re going for another spin.” And Dew pulled Travis in tight and they were gone in a flash.

««—»»

Although this was the second time in hours Travis had traveled by Dew’s black vortex express, it wasn’t much better than the first time. At least Travis didn’t pass out and go into another replay of the past. He couldn’t really handle another episode reminding him of his wife and her terrible death at the hand of a madman…

…a madman he would soon confront and end his half-century long campaign for revenge.
 
Soon he could put an end to his nightmares. Soon he could rest.

««—»»

They emerged from the darkness into the entrance of an alley off a large but quiet street. Travis shook off the effects of the trip and followed Dew out onto the brightly lit curb. Buildings towered on all sides. Travis couldn’t tell where exactly they were: New York, Chicago? Whatever. It didn’t matter as long as the journey ended here, tonight.

There was electricity in the air. The hair all over his body stood at attention leaving Travis feeling like he was covered in ants. He looked around, wondering what the hell—

“FUCK! GET DOWN!” Dew screamed and shoved Travis hard, back into the dark alley. Dew watched Travis hit the ground and spun back toward the street and raised his head. It took Travis a second to rebound and roll onto his back, pushing himself up just in time to see Dew’s body expand. His skin turned black, his muscles rippled as if preparing himself. The air changed and the ground began to vibrate beneath his ass. Travis’ eyes opened wide in pure fear.
What the fuck is going on?
He looked past Dew’s shoulder. Then…utter stillness for a split second…

…then…

Dew spread his arms wide, his muscles bulging to almost bursting his skin and he yelled, “
Aiiigghhh!!!”

FWOOOSH!! BOOOOM!!!

A flash of light completely obliterated the top floor of the building across from Dew. Travis was blinded but somehow his survival instincts kicked in and he launched himself at Dew’s feet, and into the shelter of the demon’s rock-hard body.

Within seconds the first of the debris started landing around them. Large chunks of twisted metal and stone wrapped in flame descended upon them, Dew batting them away like he was swatting at flies. The barrage of burning bits of building was relentless and came at them for what seemed an eternity. Travis stayed huddled behind Dew, praying it would end soon. And
soon
it did. The downpour of destruction gave way to a cloud of dust and smoke that enveloped Travis and Dew in its choking embrace.

Travis began hacking.

“Hold on, man. I got it,” Dew assured and then Travis heard the demon inhale. It lasted for a minute and then the sound of a wind tunnel erupted from Dew as he let out a burst of air that cleared the debris cloud from around them. Travis’s choking subsided a little and he managed to stand.

“What…what the…hell was that?” Travis shakily asked, still very afraid.

“Shhhhh!” Dew commanded. “Something is wrong. Very wrong.” He stood taller and smelled the air. “Something is here. Something I haven’t sensed in a very long time.” Then his shoulders slumped a little. “Oh shit,” he said softly.

Dew turned and looked straight at Travis, his eyes, both very visible through the lumpy mass of his face. And in those eyes Travis saw fear. Pure…fear.

Travis backed up a little, concern lining his face.
 
“What?” Travis was on the verge of sheer panic. “What?”

“What the fuck have you done?” Dew said, menace in his voice.

Travis backed up more. “I-I-I don’t… What are you talking…”

But before he could finish he saw Dew’s claw flash forward to close over his face. Travis’ words were muffled. Dew pushed Travis a little further into the shadows but still close enough to the street so they could see.

“Quiet,” Dew hissed. Then he looked around cautiously, afraid. “I don’t want it to see us.”

They watched as the dust cloud settled to the ground. Burning paper fireflies danced through the air with falling black ash. They continued looking up, up and up until they found the smoking remains of the office building’s top floor. Through the smoke and fire, twisted limbs of metal stabbed the night’s sky. The building settled in a loud series of creaks and moans accented with the harsh crashing sound of falling glass.

“Don’t move,” Dew ordered.

Travis did as he was told. But Dew’s massive claw tightened even more over the small man’s face and Travis began slapping Dew’s arm, mumbling in panic beneath the demon’s grip. “Shhh. I don’t want to be seen.” But suddenly Dew let go, realizing it was already too late. They
had
been seen.

Travis remained silent, looking up, confused. Then he saw it—something plummeting through the night sky…

down, down, down…

…to the street—the street right in front of the alley where Travis and Dew now stood.

««—»»

Travis didn’t think Dew could get any more tense, but he did just that. Dew crouched down as if preparing for an attack.

It quickly became apparent that the falling figure was that of a man. He seemed to fall for a long time. He remained upright, his feet approaching the ground rapidly. For an instant Travis thought that dropping off the side of the building had been a bad idea. This guy was gonna be splattered meat in a few seconds. But at the same time Travis just
knew
that wasn’t going to happen. And he was right.

As the man reached and then fired past the 15th floor his back erupted. A soul-shattering cry filled the night sky and Travis heard Dew mutter, “Fuck me!” But Travis kept his eyes trained on the man. He continued to scream as a golden light encircled his body. And as he drew closer to the ground he seemed to grow larger. But Travis soon realized it wasn’t the man himself getting bigger, but something behind him.
Are those…
Travis’ thought got cut short as he realized that, yes, what he was seeing was real and that the man had sprouted a set of large, white wings.

The winged man’s descent slowed, but it was obvious he didn’t know how to use the wings on his back. He wobbled around in the air. His drop became more of an agitated jig as he jerked around, his wings seemingly
trying
to slow him down. The wings twisted and soon the man was leveling out about 50 feet above the ground. He zoomed to the left, heading down the street away from Dew and Travis. But Dew remained crouched and ready.

The wings twisted again and gave a big flap and the man quickly changed direction and headed straight toward them. The wings continued to flap and the man flew down toward the street. His angle of descent was a sharp one and he hit the ground hard, tucking himself into a tight ball and rolling once he landed.

Travis winced as he saw the man hit the street.
Oh, shit!
he thought. He half expected Dew to say something smartass, but the demon remained still, his eyes following the rolling, winged man as he tumbled past them.

The man came to rest on his stomach about 30 feet from the alley. He lay there motionless for a few moments. Then he showed some signs of life as his wings twitched. Some soft moans emanated from the feathery mess. And very slowly the man pushed himself up and leaned back until he was kneeling, his upper body slumping to the right. His body shook in sharp spasms as he tried to gather enough air. The spasms subsided as he took a deep breath and exhaled, gaining control over his breathing once again. The man then sighed and stood. He was a little wobbly at first and stumbled over to the side of the street and grabbed hold of a lamppost for support. He hung his head, shaking it from side to side.

Travis wanted Dew to do something. Wanted the man to do something. Wanted
someone
to do
something.
So he did. Travis took a hesitant step toward the man. “Jesus, man. Are you alright?” he asked meekly.

Dew put his hand on Travis’ chest, shaking his head.

The stranger straightened up and twisted his neck to look at his newfound appendages. He reached up with his right hand and pensively touched the left wing as if it were a strange dog that would bite him at any second. After a few soft strokes of the wing he relaxed some. He dropped his hand and flapped each wing separately; then both at the same time. Slowly at first, but he grew more confident in his control over them and began to flap them faster.

Travis was sure he realized the guy’s feet had left the ground before the guy did. But it only took a few seconds before he looked down and noticed he was hovering about a foot above the street.

“Would you look at this shit,” he said in awe of this new development. He flapped a little more and rose a couple of more feet into the air. Then he slowed his wings and settled to the ground again.

The guy looked at Dew and Travis. “That’s new,” he said. Then excitedly, “Fucking
sweeeeeet!
” He hunched his shoulders and rolled them a bit and then like
that
, the wings were gone. “Those should come in handy.”